Beware of False Prophets
Introduction
The certainty of faith is always a search for a fuller reality, which we do not yet possess. We have to learn to live with partial visions and to place ourselves trustingly into the hands of the God of the covenant, like Abraham.
Christ is our real tree of life. If we pluck the fruits of his message and life, we too can become trees of life that produce good fruits. It is not enough for us to take pride in being the People of God and in boasting that we are disciples of Christ. We must also effectively follow him and lead the life of people of the covenant.
Reading 1: Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18
The word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram! I am your shield; I will make your reward very great.” But Abram said, “O Lord GOD, what good will your gifts be, if I keep on being childless and have as my heir the steward of my house, Eliezer?” Abram continued, “See, you have given me no offspring, and so one of my servants will be my heir.” Then the word of the LORD came to him: “No, that one shall not be your heir; your own issue shall be your heir.” He took him outside and said: “Look up at the sky and count the stars, if you can. Just so,” he added, “shall your descendants be.” Abram put his faith in the LORD, who credited it to him as an act of righteousness. He then said to him, “I am the LORD who brought you from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land as a possession.” “O Lord GOD,” he asked, “how am I to know that I shall possess it?” He answered him, “Bring me a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old she-goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” Abram brought him all these, split them in two, and placed each half opposite the other; but the birds he did not cut up. Birds of prey swooped down on the carcasses, but Abram stayed with them. As the sun was about to set, a trance fell upon Abram, and a deep, terrifying darkness enveloped him. When the sun had set and it was dark, there appeared a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch, which passed between those pieces. It was on that occasion that the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying: “To your descendants I give this land, from the Wadi of Egypt to the Great River the Euphrates.”
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 105:1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8-9
R.(8a) The Lord remembers his covenant for ever. or: R. Alleluia.
Give thanks to the LORD, invoke his name;
make known among the nations his deeds.
Sing to him, sing his praise,
proclaim all his wondrous deeds. R.
Glory in his holy name;
rejoice, O hearts that seek the LORD!
Look to the LORD in his strength;
seek to serve him constantly. R.
You descendants of Abraham, his servants,
sons of Jacob, his chosen ones!
He, the LORD, is our God;
throughout the earth his judgments prevail. R.
He remembers forever his covenant
which he made binding for a thousand generations—
Which he entered into with Abraham
and by his oath to Isaac. R.
Alleluia: John 15:4a, 5b
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Remain in me, as I remain in you, says the Lord;
whoever remains in me will bear much fruit.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel: Matthew 7:15-20
Jesus said to his disciples: “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but underneath are ravenous wolves. By their fruits you will know them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Just so, every good tree bears good fruit, and a rotten tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a rotten tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. So by their fruits you will know them.” lasts for ever.
Commentary
In addition to the major covenant between God and Israel (Ex. 19-24), there are other subordinate covenants centering on the God-Israel relationship. In today’s Genesis reading, the covenant with Abram is highlighted. God’s promise is that a great progeny will spring from Abram. There is nothing expressly asked of the patriarch except the implicit pledge of unwavering fidelity.
The covenant rituals of the Old Testament Israel were bloody. Thus, they seem strange to us. In today’s, a number of animals are split in half. A smoking fire pot and a blazing torch passes between the parts of the dead animals (reminds me of my grandfather before the “Ala” [god of harvest] shrine during the New Yam Festival). Originally the contracting parties would walk between the parts, showing their willingness to suffer the same lot as the animals should they not be faithful to the covenant terms. Here Yahweh in the form of pot and flame is the sole negotiator, with Abram close at hand in a trancelike state. Yahweh promises the patriarch the land of Canaan with borders that will extend from Egypt to the Euphrates (Wadi).
The Gospel today speaks of false prophets preaching an inauthentic gospel, of which the early church had its share. To be honest, faithful, and forthright is to bear good fruit. To do otherwise is to cut oneself off from the tree. However, if a wolf invades the sheepfold as a wolf, the sheep would take note and take cover. The danger is the wolf in sheep-cloak, enemy from within, enemy alike. Shine your eye! Says Nigerians.
We must also note that the idea of God’s covenant with Abraham is not just a powerful religious concept; it continues to have political ramifications in our modern world. There are no easy answers to resolve the difficulties between the Israelis and the Palestinians in present-day Israel, with passionate feelings on both sides. The solution lies in a peaceful two-state solution. It is a solution for which we should ardently pray.
Blessing
A tree that bears good fruit is a good tree. Let the sap of Jesus’ Gospel and his union with us and our closeness to him flow in us, and we shall bear fruits of justice, mercy and love, with the blessing of almighty God, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen!